Top slitter adjustment



April 30, 1968 w. J. GILMORE TOP SLITTER ADJUSTMENT Filed Nov. 23, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 M 6 5 I 7 H ,M////M\ w in lad. n 1} E v in; 5 A fl my m y n m; 5

April 1968 w. J. GILMORE 3,380,330

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Filed Nov. 23, 1965 United States Patent 3,380,330 TOP SLIITER ADJUSTMENT William J. Gilmore, Glenolden, Pa., assignor to Beloit Eastern Corporation, Downingtown, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 509,305 7 Claims. (Cl. 83-482) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A top slitter device for dividing a paper web longitudinally into a number of separate strips, the slitting device having a slitting blade or cutting wheel which is disposed above the moving Web and a slitter band which coacts with the cutting wheel to provide a scissor-like action. The slitter device is mounted by means of a hanger bracket above the web, and the cutting wheel is carried on an arm which is slidably disposed to be movable substantially perpendicular to the plane of the web. A pneumatic piston is provided to move the cutting wheel into engagement with the slitter band, and spring means provide a return to move the cutting wheel out of engagement with the band. In addition, motor means are provided to move the cutting wheel axially toward the band to provide the indicated scissor-like action therewith. Spring return means are provided to move the cutting wheel away from the band when disengagement is required.

This invention relates to a top slitter device associated with a paper or web Winding machine and in particular to a top slitter adjustment mechanism for remotely engaging and disengaging a slitter blade relative to a slitter band.

Paper winding machines often employ slitting devices in conjunction with a winding mechanism for dividing a paper web longitudinally into a number of separate elements. The slitting device characteristically consists of a slitting blade or cutting wheel which is disposed above the moving web and a slitter band disposed below the web. The slitter blade and band cooperate to provide a scissor-like action to slit the Web into the required units.

It may be desirable for a plurality of reasons to disengage the top slitter blades from the bottom band and to move the blades entirely away from the web. For instance, the slitter may need to be disengaged for sharpening purposes, for replacement, or simply to alter the slitting pattern.

Heretofore such adjustment of the top slitter blade has oftenrequired the disabling or tearing of the web to reach and manually disengage each slitter device. The result has been lost operating machine time and comparatively high labor charges. Also, the time required to reposition the slitting blades is substantial as the blades must bear a proper relationship to the slitter band if the required cutting function is to be acquired.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a top slitter device for a winding machine which is more efiicient in operation and which reduces both labor charges and set-up time for a winding machine.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a top slitter mechanism which may be disengaged from its associated slitter band without disrupting or disturbing the continuity of a moving web.

It is another object of this invention to provide a top slitter mechanism which may be remotely removed from an associated web and which may be remotely repositioned to assume a proper cutting position with a cooperable slitter band.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a top slitter mechanism employing a slitter blade which is 3,380,330 Patented Apr. 30, 1968 air loaded against a cooperable slitter band and which is spring biased for being disengaged from a moving web.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a top slitter mechanism which may be moved radially toward a slitter band and subsequently and automatically moved axially toward the band.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a slitter device for use on a paper winding machine which employs a top slitter piston which is utilized to load a slitter blade against a slitter band and which employs a slidable keyway device for maintaining a proper cutting relationship between that blade and the band.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be understood in greater detail from the following description and the associated drawings wherein reference numerals are utilized in designating a preferred embodiment and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a web winding machine which illustrates a typical working environment for the slitter device of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of a top slitter device according to this invention as employed in conjunction with a bottom slitter band and which has a portion thereof cut away for illustrating the spring biased relationship of a top slitter hanger rod;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line IIIIII of FIGURE 2 showing the air cylinder and associated keyway mechanism as employed within the top slitter device of this invention;

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the top slitter mechanism shown in FIGURE 2 illustrating means for moving the slitter blade axially toward the slitter band; and

FIGURE 5 shows a cut-away portion of the top slitter mechanism illustrated in FIGURE 2 and displays the operational relationship of a control lever and the valve mechanisms for introducing fluid pressure into the pressure chambers of FIGURES 3 and 4, respectively.

A typical working environment for the slitter device of this invention is illustrated in FIGURE 1. In FIGURE 1, the principal support structure 10 for a web Winding machine is shown in dotted lines and the movement of a paper web through the machine is shown schematically by a series of circles.

Generally, the paper web 11 passes beneath a lead-in roll 12 and over a guard board 13 to a pair of shear slitters 14 and 15. The guard board 13 together with the lead-in roll 12 provide a proper surface 16 for the web 11 to enable the slitting device 14 and 15 to properly divide the web into the required number of longitudinal units.

The web 11 is then received between two winder drums 17 and 18 for being ultimately wound into a completed roll 19. The roll 19 as shown in FIGURE 1 has substantial weight for maintaining a pressure contact at the winder drums 17 and 18, however, early in the Winding operation, the roll 19 will lack the necessary weight and consequently a rider roll 20 is required to load the roll 19 onto the drum surfaces 17 and 18.

The slitter device illustrated by the numerals 14 and 15 is shown in greater detail in FIGURE 2 and comprises essentially the cutter blade 15 and an adjustment mechanism indicated by the reference numeral 21. The adjustment mechanism 21 consists of a hanger bracket 22 secured by an integrally formed arm 23 to a C-frame 24 which is rigidly afiixed to the associated web winding machine. The arm 23 contacts the C-frame 24 at four points consisting of a groove 25 which receives a tongue 26 of the C-frame 24, fiat surfaces 27 and 28 for contacting the upper surface 29 of the C-frame, and a finger portion 30 having an internally threaded bore 31 for receiving a threaded shaft 32 of a locking knob 33. The locking knob 33 is received through the bore 31 and contacts an oblique 3 surface 34 of the C-frarne 24. The tightening of the locking knob 33 firmly secures the hanger bracket 22 to the C-frarne 24 and properly orientates the slitter blade relative to the slitter band 14.

The hanger bracket 22 is provided with a guide bore 35 for receiving a hanger rod 36. The hanger rod 36 has a threaded end 37 for receiving a slitter clamp knob 38. The opposite end of the hanger rod 36 is also provided with an external thread 39 for being received within a cooperable bore 40 of a support housing 41 associated with the slitter blade 15. A limit stop 42 is also threaded about the end 39 of the hanger rod 36- and provides a means for restricting the axial movement of the rod 36 within the guide bore 35. The limit stop 42 is fixedly positioned relative to the hanger rod 36 by a set screw 37a.

The guide bore 35 is provided at the upper end thereof with a radially enlarged portion 43 which has a spring seat 44 formed therein. Oppositely of the spring seat 44, a second spring seat 45 is formed by the end face of the clamp knob 38. A lee spring 46 is disposed between the spring seats 44 and 45 and, therefore, serves to bias the hanger rod 36 upwardly within the guide bore 35.

Since the slitter housing 41 which comprises a guard 47, a wheel support 48 and a hub 49, is fixedly connected to the hanger rod 36, it is apparent that, without further provision, the slitter blade 15 would be held in a position spatially separated from the slitter band 14. This is due to the fact that the rod 36 would be caused by the spring 46 to be moved upwardly within the guide bore 35 until the limit stop 42 should contact the lower surface 50 of the hanger bracket 22. Further provision, however, is made in this invention for assuring a continuous engagement of the slitter blade 15 with the slitter band 14. In particular, an air diaphragm system is formed within the hanger bracket 22 and may be understood more clearly from the sectional view of FIGURE 3.

The hanger bracket 22 is shown in FIGURE 3 to comprise a lower section 51 and a cover 52 which is secured to the lower section by a series of bolts 53. An air cylinder or cylindrical chamber 54 is formed within the hanger bracket 22 and is substantially parallel to the guide bore 35. An elongated cylindrical piston 55 is slidably disposed within the cylindrical chamber 54 and is rigidly secured to the slitter blade housing 41 at a point 56.

The upper portion of the cylindrical piston 55 is provided with a diaphragm means for being actuated by an air pressure system to urge the slitter blade 15 into engagement with the cooperable slitter band 14. In particular, a resilient diaphragm 57 is disposed interiorly of the cylindrical chamber 54 for providing a pressure seal between the hanger bracket 22 and the piston 55. The diaphragm 57 has a bead 58 secured between the lower section 51 of the hanger bracket 22 and the cover section 52. An air-tight seal is developed between the hanger bracket sections 51 and 52 by the tightening of the bolts 53.

The diaphragm 57 is provided with a web portion 59 which is disposed between the outer surface 60 of the piston 55 and a radially enlarged wall 61 of the cylindrical chamber 54. The web portion 59 incorporates sufiicient excess diaphragm material, as is well understood, to accommodate the required travel of the piston 55.

The diaphragm 57 is mounted to the piston 55 through a bracket assembly which consists of a piston cap 62 rigidly secured by suitable means at a recessed rim 63 formed at the upper surface 640i the piston 55. The resilient diaphragm 57 is sandwiched between the cap member 62 and a top piston washer 65 via a threaded connection at a screw 66. The diaphragm, therefore, is maintained in firm assembly with the piston 55 and assures an air pressure seal between the piston and the associated hanger bracket 22.

The diaphragm 57 is air pressure actuated, and for that purpose air is introduced through a pipe fitting 67 which is disposed within a threaded bore 68 of the hanger brackct cover section 52. The fitting 67 may be of standard configuration and size for being connected to an air hose and therethrough to an air pressure source at a point remote from the slitter mechanism.

It is apparent from FIGURES 2 and 3 that the spring biased hanger rod 36 and the air pressure loaded piston 55 cooperate to produce engagement and disengagement of the slitter blade 15 relative to the bottom slitter band 14. Engagement is accomplished by introducing air pressure through the fitting 67 to the upper portions of the cylindrical chamber 54. Pressure received within the chamber 54 is confined by the resilient diaphragm 57 and causes a downward motion of the cylindrical piston 55 for moving the slitter blade 15 into engagement with the slitter band 14. However, the air pressure received at the face of the diaphragm 57 must be sufficient for overcoming the biasing force of the lee spring 46 which is disposed within the radially enlarged portion 43 of the guide bore 35. The lee spring 46, therefore, provides a disengaging means for the slitter blade 15.

While air pressure within the cylindrical chamber 54 will cause a downward motion of the hanger rod 36 for compressing the spring 46, the releasing of air pressure within the cylindrical chamber 54 will allow the spring 46 to move the hanger rod 36 upwardly within the guide bore 35 for lifting the slitter blade 15 relative to the bottom slitter band 14. Hence, engagement and disengagement of the slitter blade is accomplished simply by loading and unloading an air pressure system which, of course, may be controlled remotely from the winding machine and which may permit disengagement of the slitter blade without disturbing the continuity of the web 11.

Disengagement of the slitter blade 15 by the relieving of air pressure from the chamber 54 is controlled by the limit stop 42 which is secured to the lower end 39 of the hanger rod 36. The lee spring 46 will cause the hanger rod 36 to extend upwardly within the guide bore 35 until the, limit stop 42 contacts the lower surface 50 of the hanger bracket 22. The embodiment of this invention illustrated in FIGURE 2 allows an upward movement of the hanger rod 36 of approximately .5 inch which provides adequate spacing between the slitter blade 1'5 and the bottom band 14 for adequately clearing the web 11.

More importantly, the downward movement of the slitter blade 15 is controlled by the positioning of the clamp knob 38 at the upper end of the hanger rod 36. When the diaphragm 57 is energized by air pressure received within the fitting 67, the slitter blade and hence the hanger rod 36 will move downwardly until the clamp knob 38 contacts the upper surface 69 of the hanger bracket 22. The amount of penetration of the slitter blade 15 may be controlled by varying the relative position of the clamp knob 38 about the threaded surface 37 of the hanger rod 3'6. Therefore, after disengagement of the slitter blade 15 re-engagement may be established without laborious manual setting of the slitter blade relative to the slitter band 14.

To assure that the slitter blade 15 maintains a proper attitude relative to the shearing surface of the slitter band 14, a slide key system is provided within the chamber 54. In particular, the piston 55 is provided with an elongated key slot 70, and the hanger bracket 22 is provided with key openings 71 and 72 which are formed adjacent to the key slot for receiving a key 73. The key 73 has first and second leg members 74 and 75 for being received through the key openings 71 and 72 into the key slot 70. The key 73 is mounted to the hanger bracket 22 by a series of bolts 76 received within cooper-able bores 77 formed within the lower section 51 of the hanger bracket 22. In this way, actuation of the piston 55 will be confined to longitudinal motion with rotational or pivotal motion being eliminated by the key slot and key assembly as described. Therefore, the slitter blade 15 will maintain a proper attitude relative to the associated shearing surfaces of the slitter band 14.

The structures illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3 show a means for moving the slitter blade radially toward the slitter band. In FIGURE 4, however, the side view of the slitter mechanism of FIGURE 2 illustrates means for moving the blade axially toward and from the band.

The top' slitter blade is mounted on a slitter hub 78 and is held in position by a clamp nut 79. The cl-a'mp nut is threaded about a surface 80 and locks the blade 15 between the opposing surfaces 81 and 82 of the slitter hub and the clamp nut, respectively.

The slitter hub 78 is mounted about the axle 49 through a bushing 83 and a bearing set 84. The bushing 83 is slidably received about the axle 49 and the hub is rotata-bly mounted about the bushing through the bearings 84. The entire assembly is provided with a dust guard 85 which is fixedly secured to the axle through a fixture 86. A spring 87 is then disposed between the guard 85 and the bushing 83 which tends to bias the slitter blade inwardly on the axle 49.

The bottom slitter band 88 is shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 4 and the slitter blade 15 contacts the band 88 at a point 89. This may be referred to as the operating position. However, the spring 87 tends to urge the bushing and the associated .top slitter hub assembly away from the operating position 89 to a position 90 shown dotted in FIGURE 4. This position may be referred to as a set-up position. The spacing between the set-up position 90 and the operating position 89 is chosen in this particular embodiment to be approximately .06 inch.

To move the top slitter blade from the set-up position 90 to the operating position 89, means must be provided for overcoming the biasing force provided by the spring 87. Such a means is found in FIGURE 4 in the form of a second air cylinder 91 formed within the housing 41 disposed adjacent to the hanger rod 36. A piston 92 is operably disposed within the air cylinder 91 and a diaphragm 93 is connected to form an air pressure seal between the walls of the air cylinder 91 and the piston 92. The connection of the diaphragm is illustrated clearly in FIGURE 4 and is well understood in the art. A piston rod 93a is secured for being operated by the piston 92 and is connected directly to a fork engagement-disengagement mechanism 94 through a pivotal or pin union 95. The fork 94 is mounted at a fulcrum illustrated by the pin connection 96. The fork 94 extends from the pin connections 95 and 96 to a finger portion 97 which contacts a washer 98 fitted against the inner surface of the top slitter hub 78. It is apparent that pressure applied to the top slitter hub by the finger portion 97 of the fork 94 will serve to move the slitter hub assembly axially along the top slitter axle 49 for compressing the spring 87 and for moving the top slitter blade 15 into the engagement or operating position 89.

Introducing air pressure .into the cylinder 91 will cause the piston 92 to move from a position 99 to the position 100. Simultaneously, the fork disengagement arm will be pivoted from the position 101 to the position 102. The finger portion of the fork arm 97 will have also caused the top slitter hub and assembly to move from the inner position 103 to the outer position 104. This movement Will then produce axial slitter blade movement from the nonoperating or set-up position 90 to the operating position 8-9.

Likewise, when the air pressure is removed from the cylinder 91 the biasing force of the spring 87 will cause the slitter blade assembly to move to the set-up position, accomplishing a complete reversal of movement of the fork and piston assembly.

Since disengagement of the slitter blade with the slitter band requires radial movement of the slitter assembly as illustrated in FIGURE 2, the axial movement illustrated in FIGURE 4 is likewise required to assure that the slitter blade is not moved against the top surface of the bottom band 105 but rather is moved against the cutting edge 106.

By moving the blade directly against the top surface of the band 88, the blade will be damaged and the cutting function spoiled. Therefore, proper engagement of the slitter blade with the slitter band is accomplished by moving the slitter blade radially toward the band while the blade is in the non-operating position 90. When the blade is fully radially moved inwardly of the band 88 the piston 92 can be actuated for moving the slitter blade axially toward the band 88. This will then produce the proper cutting relationship without any danger to an improper engagement or contact of the cutting edge of the blade with the upper or top surface 105 of the slitter band 88.

This invention provides a means for accomplishing the sequential radial and axial movement of the slitter blade automatically.

The means for accomplishing the automatic sequential movement of the blade radially inwardly toward the band and then axially toward the band is shown in FIGURE 5. This means consists of a first valve mechanism 107 which is connected through an air pressure line 108 to the air cylinder or chamber 54. A second valve 109 is connected via an air pressure line 110 directly to the air cylinder 91. Therefore, the pressure line 108 activates the radial movement of the slitter blade 15 while the line 110 activates the axial movement of that blade.

Initially, assume the lines 108 and 110 are depressurized. This means that the slitter blade is moved to a nonoperating position axially away from the band and radially removed from the band. The pressure line 108 is first energized or pressurized by a manual control mechanism at which time the slitter blade 15 is caused to move radially inwardly toward the slitter band. However, the clamp knob 38 which is threadedly attached to the hanger rod 36 of the top slitter assembly is likewise moved inwardly toward the band and the lower surface of the knob 45 is caused to contact a pin 111 which is fixedly mounted within a control lever 112. The lever 112 is pivotally secured at a point 113 to the top slitter assembly hanger bracket and has a control end 114 contacting a button 115 which is disposed for actuating the pressure valve 109.

Therefore, when the slitter blade has moved to a fully radially inward position relative to the slitter band, the clamp knob 38 contacts the pin 111 for actuating the control lever 112. Actuation of the lever 112 then depresses the button 115 for actuating the pressure valve 109. Actuation of the pressure valve 109 then causes air pressure to be introduced to the air cylinder 91 for moving the slitter blade axially toward the slitter band. Therefore, the sequence of movements radially inwardly and axially toward the band have been automatically accomplished without endangering the surface of the band or of the slitter blade.

It is understood that various modifications of the embodiment disclosed herein may be accomplished by those versed in the paper making art, however, I desire to claim all such modifications as properly come within the scope and spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A top slitter mechanism comprising:

a slitter hanger bracket for being mounted on a web winding machine and for supporting a top slitter blade in operable relationship with a bottom slitter band,

a guide bore formed within said hanger bracket,

a hanger rod slidably received within said guide bore for carrying a slitter blade therein,

a cylindrical chamber formed within said hanger bracket substantially parallel to said guide bore,

a piston slidably received within said cylindrical chamber for actuating a slitter blade carried by said hanger rod,

said hanger rod being biased for moving a slitter blade attached thereto in a direction away from an associated slitter band,

means for energizing said piston for moving an associated slitter blade contrary to the bias of said hanger rod in a direction for engaging a slitter band,

means for controlling the energization of said piston.

2. A top slitter mechanism as described in claim 1 wherein said guide bore has a radially enlarged portion formed at the upper end thereof, said radially enlarged portion forming a first spring seat inwardly of said hanger bracket, a clamp knob secured to the upper end of said hanger rod and having a surface forming a second spring seat thereon, a lee spring disposed within said radially enlarged portion of said guide bore between said first and second spring seats for biasing said hanger rod upwardly within said hanger bracket and thereby disengaging an associated slitter blade relative to a cooperable slitter band.

3. A top slitter mechanism as described in claim 1 wherein said means for energizing said piston comprises:

a resilient diaphragm interfitted between said piston and said hanger bracket and forming a pressure seal therebetween,

means for introducing air pressure into said cylindrical chamber,

said resilient diaphragm urging said piston down- Wardly within said cylindrical chamber due to energization of said air pressure means, whereby a slitter blade may be engaged with a slitter band.

4. A top slitter device comprising:

a hanger bracket having a guide bore and a cylindrical chamber formed therein in substantial parallel relationship,

a hanger rod and a piston rigidly connected at a first end and having a second end slidably received within said guide bore and cylindrical chamber respectively,

said guide bore having a radially enlarged portion formed at the upper end thereof, said radially enlarged portion forming a first spring seat inwardly of said hanger bracket,

a clamp knob secured to the upper end of said hanger rod and having a surface forming a second spring seat thereon,

a lee spring disposed within said radially enlarged portion of said guide bore between said first and second spring seats and biasing said hanger rod and piston in a direction from said first to said second end,

a resilient diaphragm interfitted between, said piston and said hanger bracket and forming a pressure seal therebetween,

means for introducing air pressure into said cylindrical chamber,

said resilient diaphragm urging said piston in a direction from said second end to said first end due to energization of said air pressure means.

5. A top slitter mechanism as described in claim 1 wherein a key slot is formed within said cylinder and said cylinder is keyed through said slot to said hanger bracket, whereby a slitter blade attached to said hanger rod is maintained in a proper cutting relationship with an associated slitter band.

6. A top slitter device as described in claim 4 wherein a key slot is formed longitudinally within said piston and first and second spaced key openings are formed within said hanger bracket adjacent to said key slot, a slide key secured to said hanger bracket and having first and second legs extending through said key openings respectively and into said key slot, whereby a slitter blade carried by said hanger rod is maintained in a proper cutting relationship with an associated slitter band.

7. A top slitter mechanism comprising:

a slitter hanger bracket for being mounted on a Web winding machine and for supporting a top slitter blade in operable relationship with a bottom slitter band,

a guide bore formed within said hanger bracket, a hanger rod slidably received within said guide bore for carrying a slitter blade therein,

a cylindrical chamber formed within said hanger bracket substantially parallel to said guide bore, a piston slidably received Within said cylindrical chamber for actuating a slitter blade carried by said hang er rod,

said hanger rod being biased for moving a slitter blade attached thereto in a direction away from an associated slitter band,

means for energizing said piston for moving an associated slitter blade contrary to the bias of said hanger rod in a direction for engaging a slitter band,

means for controlling the energization of said piston,

means biasing the slitter blade axially away from the band,

fluid pressure means for urging the blade axially toward the band,

an actuation lever mounted at said hanger bracket and positioned for being operated by the radially inward movement of the blade,

said actuation lever activating said fluid pressure means and moving the blade into a cutting position with the band.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS JAMES M. MEISTER, Primary Examiner. 

